Football stuff

There was just no beating the Saints Monday night. The way they played, probably no one would have beat them. How about that gap that opened up for the punt block at the beginning. And their defense's pass coverage all night. Wow! I felt kind of sorry for Atlanta. They had no chance.

In other football news:

Police: T.O. tried to kill himself
By JAIME ARON, AP Sports Writer
September 27, 2006

DALLAS (AP) -- Flamboyant Dallas Cowboys receiver Terrell Owens tried to kill himself by overdosing on pain medication, even putting two more pills into his mouth after a friend intervened, according to a police report obtained Wednesday.

The report said Owens was asked by rescue workers "if he was attempting to harm himself, at which time (he) stated, `Yes."'

The Dallas police report said the 32-year-old Owens told his friend "that he was depressed." Details of the police report were first reported by WFAA-TV. Police scheduled a news conference for later Wednesday morning.

Now, I wouldn't be surprised if this story has been blown way out of proportion (because that's what "the news" does), but if not, maybe it's time to take it easy on the guy for a while. Yeah, maybe he is a self-centered prick, but maybe he's just misunderstood. I don't know, and I'm not going to pretend to know. But regardless of whether he's a good guy or a total prick, he's still a person.

Same thing with Maurice Clarett. The guy has done a lot of stupid shit, and now he has to face the consequences. I think deep down inside Clarett is a very good guy. I think he has proven it in a lot of ways that "the news" never focused on. I think he has been around too many bad influences--people who wanted to capitalize off of his talent and people who blew up his ego to the point that it overpowered the good guy inside him. I'm not excusing him for all the stupid shit he's done, but I'm not willing to convince myself that he has nothing to offer society. I think he does, and I think he will.

Bryant Gumbel finished his recent HBO show with an awesome commentary about Clarett. Most Americans probably can't comprehend Gumbel's point of view or his rhetoric because it involves thinking, but Gumbel said pretty much what I'd like to have said here, only 20 times better. He expressed extreme disappointment but also a caring optimism. He recognizes Clarett's mistakes, but he also sees Clarett's potential to prove himself a valuable component of American society someday.

I really respect Bryant Gumbel, not only for what he said about Clarett but for what he's said on previous shows. In all the years that Gumbel has been in the public eye, I never paid much attention to him, but I will now because I know his voice is worth hearing. (Keith Olbermann, too.)

Aimless, muthafucka!